Convertible dishcloth and scraper



Nov. 14, 1939.

MA M. COHEN CONVERTIBLE DISHCLOTH AND SCRAPER Filed Nov. `22

l I l I l n l 1 I I I I l l u. I

lhwentor,

o 1 M? v M A M 2..,

Gnome Patented Nov. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Myrtle M. Cohen, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application November 22, 1937, Serial No. 175,749

1 Glaim.

This invention relates to dishcloths and more especially to that class composed of an absorbent material and a reticulated metal abrasive or woven fabric, the latter to function as a scraping or scouring element in the removal of incrustations tenaciously adhering to kitchen and dining room utensils or other objects or surfaces being cleaned.

I am aware that dishcloths have been patented with an attached flexible abrasive element, and do not claim such combinations broadly, but have for my general object to produce a dishcloth having a pocket, and equipped Wholly within the pocket, with a flexible metal abrasive of the general nature indicated, no part of the abrasive protruding, so that the entire area of the dischcloth is free to function solely in the conventional manner. In other words, there is no possibility of direct contact of the abrasive with dishes, utensils or surfaces which might be scratched, marred or damaged by contact with such abrasive or scraping element.

A further object is to provide a dishcloth of the type mentioned, in which the pocket can be turned inside out or reversed and thus expose the full area of the abrasive element for scouring and scraping action, the reversed pocket receiving a hand of the operator without danger of disarranging the abrasive or direct contact with the hand, so that such abrasive may be utilized to perform its intended function.

With the general objects named in view and others as will hereinafter appear, the invention consists in certain novel and useful features of 3 construction and combinations of parts as hereinafter described and claimed; and in ord-er that it may be fully understood, reference is to be had tol the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dishcloth 4 embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the dishcloth broken away to expose part of the pocket and the abrasive element.

Figure 3 is a section on the line III-III of Figure 2, inverted as regards the last-named figure.

Figure 4 is a similar section, but With the pocket turned inside out or reversed to expose the abrasive for scraping action, under pressure of a hand thrust into the pocket.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective View with the pocket reversed, disclosing the face of the dishcloth equipped with the abrasive and the covering or flap forming one wall of the pocket.

In the said drawing, Where like reference characters identify corresponding parts in all of the figures, l represents a dishcloth of any suitable fabric and of any desired size or area. An abrasive 2 of thin coiled wire or the like, 5 and preferably nearly as flexible as the cloth fabric and of contour corresponding generally to the contour of the pocket to be formed, by preference, is placed With its edge coinciding with a margin or corner of the cloth, and is then se- 10 cured to the cloth as by stitching 3, it being noted in this connection that it is particularly desirable that the portion of the abrasive material adjacent the mouth of the pocket shall be stitched down to avoid insertion of the hand in 15 the Wrong location as will hereinafter appear and to more reliably hold the metallic mesh in proper position. The abrasive material does not penetrate the underlying cloth, and it can, of course, be of more than one layer or thick- 20 ness, if desired.

After the metallic scraping or scouring element is secured in position, a cover member or flap d of fabric material corresponding to that of the body of the dishcloth and of sufficient area 25 to completely overlie the abrasive element, is secured around its edges by stitches 5 to the body of the dishcloth I. A portion of the perimeter of the flap is left unstitched to form the mouth of the pocket.

With the construction described, it Will be evident that by reversing or turning the pocket inside out as in Figure 4, the metal fabric 2 may be exposed for direct contact with the surfaces or utensils to be scraped or scoured,and that When the pocket is in normal position, the metal fabric is Wholly covered against any likelihood of contacting coated utensils, wooden or plated ware which might be marred or scratched if such contact should occur. It will, of course, 40 be apparent from a consideration of the drawing and description that the metallic fabric scraping or abrasive element could first be secured to the underside of the flap or cover portion 4, and then the flap and scraper could be attached as a unit to the main body of the dishcloth, leaving one section unattached to receive the hand and for reversing purposes.

It will also be apparent that the pocket affords protection against injury to finger nails 50 as guarding against chance catching on incrusted matter on utensils or the like being cleaned, and that soap in solid or powder form, may be placed in the pocket for ordinary use.

From the above description it will be apparent 55 that I have produced a device embodying the features of advantage set forth as desirable, and While I have described and illustrated the preferred embodiment, I reserve the right to all changes within the spirit of the invention and without the ambit of the prior art.

I claim: l

A dishcloth of a single thickness of material and of rectangular shape, a right triangular piece of cloth of small area compared to and itted flatly on the ydishcloth With its right angle corner and 4edges forming the corner in coinciding relation to a corner and corresponding edges of the dishcloth, the triangular cloth being secured to the dishcloth only along `said coinciding pocket is turned inside out, to serve abrasive purposes.

MYRTLE M. COHEN. 

